Emilie Richards's Blog, page 68

Instagram: Is a Picture Worth a Million Words?

How much time do you spend on social media?

Come on, be honest. Since a large percentage of people I pass every day on my walks are scrolling through their telephones as they meander drunkenly down the sidewalk, I’m on to you. Not all of you are playing Pokemon Go–and if you are, please don’t while you’re on your bike or in a crowd. Accidents do happen. In fact, put that phone in your pocket and enjoy the fresh air and your own thoughts no matter what you’re looking at.

Unless you’re taking photos.

My own social media time has expanded enormously.

I started with tentative forays into email loops, until today I have, at the very least, reserved a page at every significant site. I’ll admit I am sometimes slow to catch on. Some of the platforms make little sense to me. I’ve hung back waiting to see what happens to them first. I’m on Google Plus in name only. I think I have a Tumblr account, but couldn’t tell you why. And I’ve had an Instagram account forever. With no photos loaded.

That changed this week. My husband, known here as Proman (Project Manager) has been after me to update my Instagram profile, add a photo and some information so I could begin to use it. Proman insisted Instagram would be useful and I would learn to love it.

I already have an active Facebook Reader’s Page and a personal profile page to go with it.

And by the way, if you asked me to friend you on my profile page, please don’t be unhappy if I didn’t respond. Having a Facebook profile is a requirement before starting a page. I almost never post on my own. In fact I mainly use it to spy on my children and other family members. I don’t want to risk boring you to death. I like you too much to be your “friend.”

If you really want to know what’s going on with me, my books, my life, “like” my reader’s page and if you really, really want to know everything,  let Facebook know you want to see all those posts by clicking on the down arrow beside “liked” on my page and checking “See First” under News Feed. You can post there, too, and I love hearing from you on my page.

But back to Instagram.

After being dragged kicking and screaming to my Instagram profile and updating it, I got a bit curious. So I began to look at other people’s feeds since mine was blank. And wow, what great photos. Plus what delightfully short captions. No scary long posts to plow through. Instant pops of color and information. Suddenly I understood.

Of course I followed up by reading about all the delightful ways authors use Instagram to tell readers about their books, their lives, their pets, their gardens, their signing events, their trips TO their signing events. That sounds like a lot of silly stuff, right? But the fun part of Instagram is that “followers” can quickly scroll through anything and everything.

And life is unbelievably colorful. This isn’t your grandmother’s interminable slide show. You can whiz through the boring spots because, let’s face it, while you might not understand why any sane person wants to see photos of random dogs, others might be on the edge of their seat waiting for the next one. So you get to decide where you want to linger and where you don’t.

Pretty long-winded, huh? Just to tell you Instagram and I are now best buds.

Since I just got started, I don’t have much to show in the way of photos or followers. Right now I’m enjoying posting photos about my summer here at Chautauqua Institution, lecture snippets, scenery and anything else that my smart phone and I find interesting. In the future though? How about snippets of the latest book? Research I found interesting? Books I’m reading and love?

I hope you’ll follow along with smart phone and me. I’ll enjoy looking at your photos, too. That puts the “social” in social media.

Is this another time waster? A reason not to write?

I don’t think so, but you tell me. I’ll see you over at Instagram and we can finish our conversation. In living color.

The post Instagram: Is a Picture Worth a Million Words? appeared first on Emilie Richards.

Sunday Inspiration: Great Dreams

It seems that almost every week there is a terrible tragedy somewhere in the world that needs to be mourned.

This week our tears fall for the victims of violence in Nice, France.

The challenge for me is not to give in to fear and anger — though I feel both — but to keep dreaming great dreams in spite of those who seek to destroy them.

The author of these inspiring words, Harriet Tubman, was a slave who escaped her captives and then dared to return time after time to help other slaves escape. Her fears and anger must have been enormous, and yet time after time her dreams of freedom called her back to the struggle.

May we have the courage to keep our dreams of changing the world alive.

The post Sunday Inspiration: Great Dreams appeared first on Emilie Richards.

Ten Answers to Ten Questions About Emilie

Thanks to each and every one of you who entered last week’s Southern Exposure giveaway.  I had fun, and I hope you did, too.

Here are the ten answers to my ten questions and a few “fun facts” to go along with them. Enjoy. You’ll find the winner’s name at the bottom.

On which of Emilie’s series romance covers did her oldest son appear as a model?

All Those Years Ago, published in 1991 by Silhouette Special Editions, was the first book in a three-author series with Celeste Hamilton and Erica Spindler, who were good friends of mine. We conceived the Sonny’s Girls idea about a young man who was killed on the night of his senior prom and left behind three girls whose lives were entwined with his.

Since we needed to convey to the art department what “Sonny” looked like, I sent a copy of my son’s graduation photo, because he exactly fit the description–physically, that is–and to my surprise our publisher used it on the back cover. And no, he did not receive a model fee, but they did say thank you. I think.

By the way, I have the rights back to this novel and will look it over in the future for possible republishing. I think Shane’s photo should appear again, too.

Which one of Emilie’s series romances won the RITA award from Romance Writers of America?

Dragonslayer. And watch for it again very soon. The story truly stood the test of time, and with the brand-new cover from my talented daughter-in-law, the ebook will be at online bookstores soon.

Which of Emilie’s romances won the short-lived Janet Dailey award?

The Trouble With Joe. The award was set up by Janet Daily with Romance Writers of America to honor a romance featuring an important social issue, and had, I believe, four recipients over four years. Joe deals with older children adoption and male infertility and was either the 2nd or 3rd winner. Sadly but rightly so the award disappeared after Janet admitted to plagirizing Nora Roberts.

What was the title of Emilie’s first single title novel? (Not a series romance but her first “women’s fiction” novel.)

Iron Lace.

Who is the sleuth heroine of Emilie’s Ministry is Murder series?

Aggie Sloan-Wilcox

Name one of the three novels in which a main character is a minister–not a minister’s wife.

Dragonslayer, Endless Chain, The Color of Light. Some of you pointed out that Analiese, from The Color of Light is also a major character in the other Goddesses books, and, of course, Sam of Endless Chain, appears in other Shenandoah Album novels, too.

What is the title of the family saga that sent Emilie to Australia to research pearl diving?

Beautiful Lies, from Mark Twain’s quote about Australia: “Australian History does not read like history, but like the most beautiful lies.” The quote is found in Following the Equator.

What’s the last name of the three sisters who ran an Irish “saloon” in Cleveland? (Hint, they appear in two novels.)

Donaghue. If I’d asked you if Whiskey Island was a real place, would you have known the answer? Next time!

Which one of Emilie’s single title novels (not her mysteries) is written in first person point of view?

When We Were Sisters, my most recent novel which is available now. In this novel we’re directly in the heads of three separate characters, and we know their thoughts.

Of the two series, Goddesses Anonymous and Shenandoah Album, which contains the most novels?

This question was the most answered (bless you for counting) and everyone got it right. The Shenandoah Album series has five books and Goddesses has four. Will there be more books in either series? Stay tuned.

The winner based on a drawing by random.org of all entries is Melody Brown. Melody will receive an autographed copy of Somewhere Between Luck and Trust.

Thank you all for playing along. A special shout-out to Lisa Riegel, one of my Krewe of Review, who wasn’t chosen but who answered the most questions, all correctly. Lisa, you rock.

The post Ten Answers to Ten Questions About Emilie appeared first on Emilie Richards.

Sunday Inspiration: In Memory

These words by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are in memory of those, both black and white, who were killed this past week by hatred and gun violence.

The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral,

begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.

Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.

Through violence you may murder the liar,

but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth.

Through violence you may murder the hater,

but you do not murder hate.

In fact, violence merely increases hate.

So it goes.

Returning violence for violence multiplies violence,

adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness:

only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

The post Sunday Inspiration: In Memory appeared first on Emilie Richards.

Do You Know Ten Things About Emilie?

Congratulations to Lori, whose comment on Summertime and the Giving is Easy was chosen as a winner by random.org.

Lori will receive an autographed copy of Somewhere Between Luck and Trust for her lovely story about catching fireflies with her sister.

I feel another giveaway coming on, don’t you? Yes, I have lots of extra books to share with you, and what a great way to unclutter my bookshelf.

This time I thought I’d see how much you know about my books. Do you know ten things about Emilie Richards? Don’t worry, you don’t have to run right out and buy my entire backlist. This is just for fun. Answer any one question in a comment on this post, and you’ll be entered whether you answer correctly or not. One winner will be chosen from all commenters to receive a book.

That’s right. It’s summer and we’re all feeling lazy. You don’t even have to be right. How often do we get to say that?

So here we go. I’ll give you the answers next week along with the name of one winner, chosen by our old friend random.org.

On which of Emilie’s series romance covers did her oldest son appear as a model?
Which one of Emilie’s series romances won the RITA award from Romance Writers of America?
Which of Emilie’s romances won the short-lived Janet Dailey award? 
What was the title of Emilie’s first single title novel? (Not a series romance but her first “women’s fiction” novel.)
Who is the sleuth heroine of Emilie’s Ministry is Murder series? 
Name one of the three novels in which a main character is a minister–not a minister’s wife.
What is the name of the family saga that sent Emilie to Australia to research pearl diving?
What’s the last name of the three sisters who ran an Irish “saloon” in Cleveland? (Hint, they appear in two novels.)
Which one of Emilie’s single title novels (not her mysteries) is written in first person point of view? 
Of the two series, Goddesses Anonymous and Shenandoah Album, which contains the most novels? 

And there you have it! Choose a question to answer, tell me the question or the number of the question, and your answer. That’s easy, right?

One commenter, whether right or wrong, will be chosen to win.

How do you enter? Email your answers using the box at the bottom of this page. Your answer will go to my special contest email address.

I hope you’re having a lovely summer. Remember, there’s lots more to come.

The post Do You Know Ten Things About Emilie? appeared first on Emilie Richards.

Sunday Inspiration: The American Experiment

What I would give to see the Broadway smash hit “Hamilton,” the upbeat, hip-hop, show about that  great American, Alexander Hamilton.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is the creator and star of the Oscar winning show that brings to life the struggle to create the American experiment. As we celebrate the birth of our country this week, I thought I would share a portion of Miranda’s commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania last month, which I believe so well describes the true spirit of our nation.

“I know that many of you made miracles happen to get to this day. I know that parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and family behind you made miracles happen to be here…Your stories are essential. Don’t believe me?

“In a year when politicians traffic in anti-immigrant rhetoric, there is also a Broadway musical reminding us that a broke, orphan immigrant from the West Indies built our financial system. A story that reminds us that since the beginning of the great unfinished symphony that is our American experiment, time and time again, immigrants get the job done.”

As I watch the fireworks and spend time with family and friends this weekend, I will be celebrating the American experiment that includes all people. Celebrate with me.

The post Sunday Inspiration: The American Experiment appeared first on Emilie Richards.

Brainstorming 2016: Ideas Are Never the Problem

Certain recurring themes thread their way through the lives of all writers, fiction and non-fiction alike.

One of them we can count on? At some point we will all be approached by someone or someones who tell us they have an idea for a book and they’ll share it if we promise to write the book for them. They’ll even share some of the millions they’ll receive.

Ideas for novels are everywhere. In the air we breathe, the leaves falling from trees. They’re in newspaper headlines, in snatches of conversations we overhear, in emotions roiling inside us. Ideas are the easy part. Good ideas are harder. Ideas worth pursuing are the hardest.

Pursuing them? That’s the part that makes writers tear out our hair.

Those of you who follow this blog know I meet with a trusted group of writer friends once a year to brainstorm. The BSers (for BrainStormers, of course) have been introduced here and this year for Brainstorming 2016 we hosted the group at our summer cottage in Chautauqua, NY.

I’ve been lucky enough to be in two different brainstorming groups, and the first one ended naturally when three of the five members ended their writing careers. Casey Daniels (aka Kylie Logan) and I reconvened with two new members and the four of us have worked together now for almost five years. We always look forward to our days together.

This year some of us came to our sessions with nothing more than an idea. Each of us has two sessions devoted just to our own books. The sessions are slated to run for an hour and a half and usually go longer, and we tape every minute. This year the eight sessions  went like this.

One young adult series with very little structure.
A new mystery series with a solid premise. We came up with book ideas to include.
A brand new concept for a historical mystery series.
A series idea fueled by an idea that sounded simple but took two sessions because the timeline refused to fall into place.
The ending of a book already in process
Ideas for one new novel in a continuing mystery series
Retooling a book we plotted last year to make it fit a fabulous opening scene that’s already written.

These eight sessions didn’t include the nightly Tarot readings we do for one character each, which help us delve deeper into motivations and challenges.

It’s no wonder that by the time the gang vacated our summer cottage, my brain had been well and truly stormed, and for the next week idled without an original thought.

Read the list above with the following in mind. How much of what we did in early June has to do with new ideas and how much had to do with technique? Sometimes it’s hard to separate them.

The “series idea that sounded simple” was mine. I didn’t want or need ideas for individual books. By now individual plots are relatively easy, and I knew we could tackle those ideas next year, if needed. The brainstormers tried desperately to give me ideas anyway, but I flogged them back into place. I needed help with something larger, an overall structure that would be interesting and carry what I conceive as a five book series.

I needed structure. Two more of my colleagues needed structure to finish novels they’d already started. They didn’t need ideas. They had too many ideas, and they needed help figuring out which worked, which could work, and which had to be tossed. Then how to implement them.

In the “ideas” category we ranged from a plot for one book to entire series concepts. And even for the concepts we had to flesh out the structure so thoroughly that the author could go home and begin slotting ideas into place for as many of the books to come as possible.

Whew.

Have I made my point? Ideas worth pursuing are not a dime a dozen. You may have a great one. Just remember that the idea is a flicker in the darkness, and filling your fictional world with light is the hardest part of writing.

I’m lucky to have talented and committed friends to help me light my worlds. If you’re writing and find yourself in the dark repeatedly, gather a few writers you trust and see if you can help each other. Be warned, though. Brainstorming isn’t for everyone. If you don’t like having others play with your ideas, if you have to nurture that tiny flame by yourself or it will go out, than find another way to enhance your creativity.

Brainstorming 2016 has ended, but as always brainstorming gave me energy, and reminded me why I do what I do. Best yet, I know help is available if my fictional world suddenly goes dark. My friends are a phone call or email away. Just knowing that makes writing so much easier.

Thanks Brainstormers. I’ll see you in 2017!

The post Brainstorming 2016: Ideas Are Never the Problem appeared first on Emilie Richards.

Sunday Inspiration: Old Friends

I spent most of a week with my brainstorming friends this month. This quote says it all. Thanks for old friends who understand when an idea isn’t top notch and a phrase can’t be recalled and an idea dies mid-sentence. I hope you have old friends like this, as well. Maybe you can send this to them so they’ll know how you feel.

The post Sunday Inspiration: Old Friends appeared first on Emilie Richards.

Summer Time and The Giving Is Easy

Between a week of brainstorming, a busy family weekend with two of our four children and their children, and a tummy bug of some sort, I think a nap has to have higher priority today than my blog. By next week I expect to be back in full swing

Meantime, today–as I write this–it’s the first day of summer. Let’s hear it for sunshine, surf and sand. When I think of summer I invariably remember an afternoon at the beach when I was eight, followed by a chocolate dipped soft serve cone, and the glorious sweetness after swimming and splashing in salt water all afternoon.

Do you have a summer memory to share? A simple one that means summer to you? As a thank you for entertaining me while I recover and sharing your stories, I’ll let random.org choose one winner who will receive an autographed novel. Everyone who comments on THIS post between now and next Wednesday will be eligible. I’ll announce the lucky winner then.

Summer time and the giving is easy. Remember. One winner. Randomly chosen from everyone who comments on this post.

Looking forward to reading your summer memories. Let’s all make many more good ones in 2016.

The post Summer Time and The Giving Is Easy appeared first on Emilie Richards.

Sunday Inspiration: Father’s Day

I love this quote, which I found on the Barnes and Noble website, and it seems exactly right for Father’s Day. I hope today is filled with memories of good men who have been fathers or like fathers to you throughout your life. I’m glad we have set aside a time to celebrate and remember them, aren’t you?

From The Five People You Meet In Heaven, by Mitch Albom:

“Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them. They move on. They move away. The moments that used to define them—a mother’s approval, a father’s nod—are covered by moments of their own accomplishments. It is not until much later, as the skin sags and the heart weakens, that children understand; their stories, and all their accomplishments, sit atop the stories of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones, beneath the waters of their lives.”

Happy Father’s Day!

The post Sunday Inspiration: Father’s Day appeared first on Emilie Richards.